black wing stripes on jets
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
From: temporarily unsure :-)
black wing stripes on jets
why is it that some jet operators paint a black stripe from leading edge to trailing edge on their wings? i know that turboprops and piston acft have this so that it disguises the oil/smoke stains but this isnt the case with jets,especially since the stripes are on the top surface of the wing.i've noticed korean does this with their 777s and twa with their 767s.
Any tech person have an answer?
Any tech person have an answer?

Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 139
Likes: 2
From: LHR and beyond
On the Fokker 100 the black painted line is used as a ice detector, when the Ice builds up on the leading edge it is easily detectable against a black strip of paint on the wing, it is also a manuel back up for the icing alert system in the cockpit.
I presume this is the same for most other jets where there is a black strip of paint on the wing
cheers
fc
I presume this is the same for most other jets where there is a black strip of paint on the wing
cheers
fc
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: UK
Some military aircraft have a black painted strip on the upper surfaces which is simply a slightly roughened paint for walking on, allowing a bit more grip for the engineers who work up there, (and the aircrew if it's a type which you climb into via the wing). I don't know if commercial aircraft use similar paint for the "walkways", I'll ask next time I'm at work.
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From: LBA
Hi, yes we have "walkways" on our 737-300. From the over wing exits down off the trailing edge of the wing. So people do not slip in an evacuation. Looks like white paint with some sort of grit or something mixed in.
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: Amidst the dust and the flies, somewhere in Western Australia
As Fast Cruiser quite correctly pointed out, it is predominantly used to detect ice accretion, it is especially handy at night, as when you light the area, it provides a definitive contrast thereby
facilitating ease of detection.
facilitating ease of detection.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
From: temporarily unsure :-)
What about those black circles around the nosecones of the British Airways 757 and 737-400 aircraft? are they there for a similar ice detection reason?
Also, why,at one time,(i think in the early eighties)were all-black nosecones so prevalent? anything to do with heat retention for the weather radar?
Also, why,at one time,(i think in the early eighties)were all-black nosecones so prevalent? anything to do with heat retention for the weather radar?





